Image Gallery: February 2009
18 February 2009
Retirement of the DHC-4 Caribou
On 19 February 2009, Minister for Defence Hon Joel Fitzgibbon MP announced plans to retire the Royal Australian Air Force’s fleet of DHC-4 Caribou aircraft. The Caribou will be retired by December 2009.
RAAF took delivery of its first Caribou in April 1964. The Caribou has a proud 45-year history of supporting ADF operations in the South West Pacific and South East Asia.
It is a tribute to the outstanding work of 38 Squadron aircrew, technicians and support personnel that the Caribou has been able to operate as long as it has.
As an interim measure, a leased fleet of five additional Hawker Pacific B300 King Air aircraft will undertake light air transport tasks. These aircraft will be phased into the Townsville-based 38 Squadron as the Caribou is progressively retired toward the end of 2009. Three King Air 350 aircraft, currently operated by Army, will also be transferred to 38 Squadron.
More: Read release
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32 Squadron King Air K-350
(Date taken: 13 February 2009)
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Members from the 176 Air Despatch Squadron, located at the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) base Richmond, participate in an air re-supply onboard a Caribou aircraft during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2005.
(Date taken: 13 February 2009)
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A RAAF Caribou aircraft flying low along the Great Australian Bight.
(Date taken: 13 February 2009)
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Air to Air Photographic sortie on two King Air 350 aircraft from No 32 Squadron along Victoria's 90 Mile beach.
(Date taken: 13 February 2009)
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French Foreign Legion paratroopers board a No.38 Squadron Caribou in New Caledonia during Exercise Croix Du Sud 08, watched by Flight Engineer, Sergeant David East.
(Date taken: 13 February 2009)
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Wing Commander Tim Smith, Flight Lieutenant Ross Benson, Flying Officer Michael Read and Flight Sergeant David Farrer delivering supplies to the village of Tapini, Papua New Guinea.
(Date taken: 13 February 2009)
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No. 38 Squadron Caribou pilot, Flight Lieutenant Natalie Pietrobon, keeps her eyes on the horizon during an afternoon sortie for Exercise Pitch Black 08.
(Date taken: 13 February 2009)
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Cockpit photo of King Air 350 showing the latest in modern Promine 21 avionics
(Date taken: 13 February 2009)
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No 38 Squadron carrying out Low Altitude Parachute Extraction System (LAPES) delivery training with the Caribou.
(Date taken: 13 February 2009)
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At 10000ft and still beneath the Finisterre Ranges a 38 Squadron Caribou A4-275 cruises by clouds during a training mission in Papua New Guinea.
(Date taken: 13 February 2009)
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Army APTL course air-drop and external lift phase, conducted at NAS Nowra.
(Date taken: 13 February 2009)
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